Why Do Cats Purr?

Why do cats purr? We love hearing our cats purr, but do they only purr when they’re content, or does purring communicate something else besides pleasure?

Even though purring is the most common sound cats make, we know less about it than we know about hissing, growling, or meowing. Cats purr to communicate emotions and needs, and they do it to communicate with other cats and humans alike.

So, what does purring communicate?

1.     Lullaby

Cats start purring when they’re just a few days old. Kittens purr to let their mother know where they are, and if they feel good. Mama cats use purring like a lullaby to help their young feel safe and relaxed before sleep.

2.     Pain Relief And Healing

Many cats purr when they’re hurt or when they are in pain. Research suggests that purring might help cats recover after an injury faster. Even though a domestic cat’s purr generates frequencies between 25 – 150 Hz, cats often purr at exactly 25 Hz and 50 Hz. These two frequencies are best at promoting bone growth and fracture healing. In addition, cat purring has a strong harmonic at 100 Hz, a noise frequency used therapeutically to treat pain, ease breathing, reduce swelling, and heal wounds.

Purring might be an internal healing mechanism that helps decrease recovery time. The purring frequency might help cats maintain their muscles and bones healthy when they’re sedentary. Some studies suggest that purring might act as a mechanism that stimulates the cat’s muscles without using a lot of energy.

3.     Nervousness

Cats often purr while under duress, and that’s why you might hear them purr during a visit to the veterinarian. Humans often smile when they’re nervous, and cats might purr for the same reasons.

Cats might also purr in an attempt to pacify a potential opponent when they figure out they have no means of escape. This is why everyone working at Blakehurst Vet takes the time to make your pussycat feel comfortable. We let your furry friends know we’re not the enemy, so they have nothing to fear before we begin the examination.

4.     Soliciting Purr

Domestic cats use vocalizations to let their caretakers know when or if they need anything, especially food and attention. Scientists call this type of vocalization “soliciting purr”, and it’s often a combination of purring and meowing.

But the interesting thing is that cats use certain sound amplitudes when they solicit something from their human hosts. Cats embed a high-frequency component in their otherwise low-frequency purr which rarely fails to attract our attention. Even people who have no experience with having cats judge the solicitation purrs as less pleasant and more urgent, so cats definitely know what they’re doing.

5.     Happiness

Cats use purring much like we use smiles. You could compare their purring with the tail wagging dogs do when they’re happy. Your cat is content when she is basking in the sun with her eyes closed or when you pet her, so she’s in her happy place. The purr you hear is the sound of happiness.

Why Cats Purr

Even though most of us believe cats purr only when they’re happy, the truth is that purring is a complex mechanism science has yet to figure out completely. If your cat purrs for a long time without obvious reasons, please call us on 9547 2750. You can also book an appointment to see the vet by clicking here.